Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-11-25

| -" SSooCO W WiAtSJ III Sheet OSSp3T Oh
she knew not what, she never failed to
scan the papers for military news from
lndis, and latterly from Burmah, and had
seen full notices OF the departure Of the
bengal column to join the army of Gen
eral Prendergast.
ThenScame tidiDgs of the capture OF
Mlnhla, the first brief dispatch received
at the Indis Office from HIS Excellency,
the Viceroy, to the effect that the barrier
part OF the river had been captured, after
three hours conflict, with thirteen guns
that "the town had been accidentally
burned down; that steam launch had
been capsized and that the casualties
would follow"
The casualties!
VIII bitter pang those two words
gave her heart! But how hopefully snd
proudly it beat when, day or two after,
came fuller details, that included notice
OF how gallantlY Captain Montague
Lonsdale, V. g., Con special service with
the Twelfth Native Infantry had recon
noitered the enemy's works within rife
shot, and at the head of detachment had
stormed, at the point of the bayonet, g
fortified villsge on the right flank OF the
position. Tidings with which, in s
tumult of thought, she rushed to the
Vicarsge, to share with her friend and
gossip, little Amy Brendon.
Amy had become her own Joyous, active
ana bright self again, with her thick,
ripping hair and dark, laughing eyes
With renewed Hghtness Of spirits, her
naturally splendid health had come back
to her, and among her fathers old
parishloners she had, as formerly, plenty
OF occupation whereby to kill the time till
Horace Musgrave should return 10
Stokencross, as his letters-though his
illness was prOtracted-now assured her
he was hourly longing TO do.
| His kinsman's wife-the same kinsman
whose initials had created such confus
ion and consternation-the fair and
firty Hilds, who had reduced the art a
coquetry tC science, as cher spouse was
fast discovering now, had also assured
her that Horace was recovering certainly,
but slowly, she had got such deuce of
shaking and pounding in that awful spill
at the hurdle race;" thus
more than the brief ten days
he had allotted to himself
would have to elapse ere he was fairly on
his legs again, and fit for duty or travel
ling; so, meanwhile, the marriage was
still delsyed-a fact ominous OF disaster,
as all old ladies alleged-snd Reginald
Talbot, sooth to say, cared not how long
the delay was; yet thought, meanwhile,
that his emotions on the subject were
somewhat akin to those of the dog in the
maDger.
Then Amy, in the excess of her revul-
sion Of spirits, after discovering that her
lover was true, was tempted to be more
than usually kind and elusive in her bear-
ing to the unfortunate young sailor, when
she met him abroad in his wheel chair,
among the shady lanes near The hall, ard
this new manner of hers, all unconscious
as she was Of it, seemed but to tantalize
aud torture-though it did not deceive
MIN.
"Ah," said her mother, as one day,
with fond and caressing eyes, she
watched Amy, while the latter stood be-
fore mirror over the mSntel-board,
tilting her piquant hat backward and
forward to suit the light and shadow, or
arrangement of her rich, soft, curly
fringe, ~ think the greatest vocation =
girl can have is to be clergyman's wife,
and when l trained yon, my little one, up
for tor thought did"
eyes, thought you did, mamma; but q
Husssr came, and there was an end of the
VOCATION" interrupted the old vicar,
lsughingly.
The small, but happy, circle at the vi
Garage, shared TO the full the satisfaction
and pleasure which Melsnie had at last
even through the prosaic medium of the
public prints, heard of her fisnce, and the
laudatton his courage had won.
OF the non arrival of letters in answer
to those sent, mail sitter mail, by Melsnie,
Aunt Chillington, when occasion offered |
and Uncle Grimshaw In particular, never |
ceased to make the most in urging upon |
her the folly. of deemiDg that her engage
ment still existed, and to eXpatiate, as |
usual, on the advantages offered by the |
of Sir Brisco; and once, when |
compelled to listen to all that her uncle |
could say, gust of grief, dismay, almost
shame, but certainly modification, shook
the unhappy girl.
"Lonsdale," said Uncle Grimshaw,
"knows, no doubt, The girl
| left behind me- and has ridden-or
rather sailed away-in this instance, as in
many others, and thought no more about
her. 1t is way they have in the army, 1
believe; there, sentimentslity is wisely /
deemed an absurdity."
After pause, during which he eyed her
grimly, her uncle said:
al can never cease TO condemn enough
he selfshness of this fellow, who Iured
7Ou into promise to wait for him-him,
md Whist more? What have you
gained ?"
"The love of good and brave man,"
eplied Melsnie.
"And that is all you think Of Will ]
his love pay rent and taxes and trades
mems bills? So, how about money-the
news of man, as your precious Lonsdale
will no doubt call it2
Her shoulders hesved; her face was
urned from him and buried in the hack {
# an easy chair, and one arm, white as {
now and temptingly revealed by loose Z
leeye, an arm Of rarest and tempting
erm, rested in relief upon dark velvet |
ushion; but he eyed her pitiIessly-her
eauty had no effect on him-with tri- /
mphsnt twinkle in his sharp pale eyes,
while rasping his side tufts, which locked l
Ike Satanic horns, especially when ad- 7
ed to the expression Of his Saturnine I
Usage. /
But, srtfully ceasing to taunt now, he j
ought to soothe, apparently. J
"Thus it is that I am anxious, more !
han ever anxious, Melanie," he con- J
nued, "to see you comfortably, happily J
nd even splendidly married-fer the !
axe of y ur brothers as well as yourself. j
Iy means are limited, my life uncertain; j
lie offers of Sir Brisco we cannot hope 7